McAuliffe Only Dem to Trail Republican in Va. Gov. Poll

A new survey of Virginia voters shows a tight race for governor between leading Republican candidate Robert McConnell and three Democratic candidates, including former Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe.

McConnell, the Virginia attorney general, leads McAuliffe 41 percent to 36 percent in the Rasmussen Reports poll. McAuliffe is widely known for his fundraising prowess and his cable news appearances on behalf of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) during the Democratic presidential primaries.

Two other Democrats fare better than McAuliffe in the poll. State Sen. Creigh Deeds is tied with McConnell at 39 percent, while state Rep. Brian Moran leads the Republican 37 percent to 31 percent.

The state has been trending Democratic in the past decade, with Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine winning the governor’s mansion, Warner and Jim Webb (D) capturing the state’s two Senate seats and with President-elect Barack Obama carrying the state in the presidential general election.